Improvement in reed-organs



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RILEY BURDETT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN REED-ORGANS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 98,345, dated December 28, 1869.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, RiLEY BUEDETT, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Reed-Organs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l'is a plan view ot' my improved keyboard. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the action of my instrument. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the upper action and wind-chest. Fig. 4 is a plan, showing the extension-arms for the pedal-action, &c. Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the lower socket-board, 86e. Fig. 6

is a vertical section through one ot the suh-l bass sockets.

My improvement in reed-organs relates to that class which has more than one bank of keys and several stops; and consists, particularly, in the arrangement of parts with reference to each other, so that a much greater variety of effects can be produced than has hereto been possible within the same dimensions and with the same mechanical power.

That others may fully understand my improvement, I will particularly describe it.

A A' are the socket and reed boards. B B' are the wind-chests. C C are the key-frames. D D are the keys, and `E E are the trackerpins. F is the bellows. G are the valves. H H are the blow-pedals. These parts are all of ordinary construction, and do not require any special description. I is al wind-conductor, connecting the lower wind-chest B with the upper, B. J K L M are four reed-sockets on main reed-board A, and N 0 P Q are the stops for the same. R is the reed-socket for the upper action. b S are the foot-pedal keys, which operate the corresponding keys on the manual by means of the long connecting-rods T, which act against the extension-arms U, which project backward from said manual. The extension-arm U has a hole through its rear end, to permit a pin set in the end ofthe rod T to pass upward through said extension-arm. The purpose of this is to permit said extension-arm to rise up when the key is depressed by the lingers without operating the rod T also, but to enable the performer to operate said keys with the foot-pedal, when desirable. The set of reeds J gives a four-foot tone, and is called principal. The set K gives an eight-foot tone, and is called celeste being tuned a little out with another set. The set L gives an eight foot tone, and is tuned the same pitch as diapason, and iscalled clarabell-a.7 The set M gives a sixteen-foot tone, but may be tuned as a bourdon or a diapason. The set R is tuned in unison with the bourdon, and is called clarion or cremorneJ The set V gives a sixteen-foot tone, and is used as subbassin this instrument. The upper set ofkeys and its action are for use more particularly in solo-playing, but, when desired, can be used the same as, or coupled to, the lower bank;4

niment is played on the lower bank, and whenv used in this manner effects are produced that cannot be obtained on any ordinary organ. This set extends from tenor F4 upward, three or more octaves, as shown in Fig. l.

By these combinations a very comprehensive and eiective instrument is produced, without necessarily increasing the size of the case, bellows, or valves, over those ordinarily used in small instruments.

The reeds used for the stop L, designated clarabella, are made smaller 4than the ordinary reed, and placed perpendicular, or nearly so, to the socket-hoard. The reeds constituting this stop are so covered up and shaded by their surroundings that they, from their size, peculiar arrangement, and position, produce a subdued, sweet, and pipe-like tone. The subbass set Vis let into the wind-space or throat 0i the bellows, below its conjunction with the foundation and socket-board, as shown in figure, and thereby secures the advantages of great compactness and volume of tone.

In this organ the stops may be operated in any of the common and well-known ways, and they may be coupled or operated singly, as may be desired, the methods of accomplishing these ends being well known in the trade. Octave- .couplerstmay be attached; also any suitable key-coupler, to couple the two banks of keys, may be used. f

The effects produced and the varieties ohtained on this instrument by thejudicious use and combination of stops are as great as any large pipe-organ, and exceed that of any other reed instrument.

In order to produce the required motion in the tracker-pin and valve, and a proper dip in the keys of the upper manual, l have constructed a compound-lever movement to operate the tracker-pins and secure the full action ofthe valves without acorresponding motion or dip ofthe key. I interpose between the tracker-pin and the key the lever W, hinged on the t'rontrail of the key-frame U, and place between said lever and the key a short pin or block, X, attached to the lever W at a suitable point hetweeu the front end ot' the key and the trackerpin E. The motion then of the tracker-pin is greater than the depression ot' the key at its junction with the lever, and in proportion to the distance of the block X trom the end ot' the lever W. The reason for using this compound lever is that the tracker-pin is extended so near the farther end ot the key that suicient motion cannot be otherwise obtained.

The instrument thus described can be made with or Without the upper action or its belongings.

It will be perceived that the upper bank, being limited to that part ot' the scale most serviceable in solo-playing, permits the bank to be materially shortened, and enables me to employ the extension-arms U for the sub-bass without interfering with the action of said upper bank. Thus I secure all the advantages ot' a double bank and the pedal-action, asl have described it, combinedin the saine instrument, which would not be practicable under any other arrangement. There are also other material advantages pertaining to this' arrangement,

viz: the short bank of keys requires less bellows-power than a long bank would do, and Ille bellows and its attachments may therefore be smaller than would otherwise be necessary. The short bank also costs less in material and labor than a long bank, and the instrument will cost proportionately less than it otherwise would do.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. The arrangement of the upper and lower wind-chests B and B, connected by the throat I, substantially as described.

2. The set L, placed vertically, or nearly so, in the socket-board, as described, and for the effect set forth.

3. The combination and arrangement of the key D, lever W, and block X, or its equivalent, with the tracker-pin E, for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination and arrangement of the foot-pedal keys S, long connecting-rod T, and extension-arm U, so that the keys of the lower bank may be operated by the pedal-keys, when desired.

5. The manual sub-bass, set into the throat of the bellows, and operated as described.

6. The combination and arrangement ofthe several parts described, and for the purpose set forth.

` RILEY BURDETT. v

Witnesses:

H. O. HEDGE, R. D. 0. SMITH. 

